Natural Resources Defense Council

This office interior renovation comprises 19,700 square feet on two floors of an existing downtown office building constructed in 1927. The project includes private offices, open work areas, conference rooms, and a law library. The design minimizes energy use, maximizes comfort, enhances access to daylight, views, and indoor air quality, uses recycled/renewable/non-toxic materials, and implemented aggressive water management and indoor air quality during construction. It boasts a Title 24 compliance margin that exceeds 50 percent.

“The design approach following through on such a wide array of sustainable technologies in a small space is outstanding,” the jurors enthused. “The lack of waste in the new elements should be a valuable precedent for designers doing historic renovations in existing buildings.” They particularly praised the space’s quality of light even in the most interior areas, the demonstration of recycled and reclaimed materials, and the extraordinarily refined detailing.

Notable Accomplishments

Title 24 compliance margin that exceeds 50 percent.

Jurors

Nancy Clanton is founder and president of Clanton & Associates, a lighting design firm specializing in sustainable design. Nancy speaks throughout the nation on topics relating to sustainable and energy-efficient design and light pollution and has been an instructor at the University of Colorado-Boulder. She is past chairperson of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Outdoor Environmental Lighting Committee and a past director of the International Association of Lighting Designers, and is currently on the board of the International Dark Sky Association. In addition, she serves on the Advisory Committee of Environmental Building News, is a member of the Professional Advisory Board for the Engineering Department at the University of Colorado-Boulder, and is a member of the United States Green Building Council.

She was group leader for the “Greening of the White House” initiative and received the 1999 “Contribution to the Built Environment Award” from the Colorado North Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Katherine (Kate) Diamond, FAIA is the Design Principal for RNL’s Los Angeles office. Prior to joining RNL, Kate built a strong design reputation as principal and lead designer of her own practice, Siegel Diamond Architecture. Kate brings a lifetime of personal commitment to sustainable design of design excellence to build RNL’s leadership in energy efficient design dating back to the 70s energy crisis.

Kate continues to design multiple LEED-rated projects. In addition to her architectural experience, Kate has played a role in developing sustainable design guidelines for the cities of Santa Monica and San Gabriel and in organizing a variety of urban design charettes that focused on the integration of green principles.

Robert Noble, AIA, is CEO and Design Principal of Tucker Sadler, a 40-member, 50-year-old diversified design practice based in San Diego, with offices in Arkansas and projects nationwide. Robert has been an architect, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur for 25 years and has been responsible for a number of environmentally advanced building and material technologies, and sustainable design projects. He and his work have been published internationally and have been the recipient of prestigious design and environmental awards including: The Edison Award for Environmental Achievement, “E-Town” Environmental Achievement Award (awarded on National Public Radio); California Integrated Waste Management Award and Popular Science “100 Best New Technologies” (1993).

He is LEED accredited, is past Chair and one of the founding board members of the US Green Building Council of San Diego and is currently president-elect of the San Diego Chapter of the AIA.

This program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and Southern California Gas Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The municipal portion of this program is funded and administered by Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.